Plant Secondary Metabolites

Plant secondary metabolites have been a fertile area of chemical investigation for many years, driving the development of both analytical chemistry and of new synthetic reactions and methodologies. The subject is multi-disciplinary with chemists, biochemists and plant scientists all contributing to our current understanding. Plant secondary metabolites have been a fertile area of chemical investigation for many years, driving the development of both analytical chemistry and of new synthetic reactions and methodologies. The subject is multi-disciplinary with chemists, biochemists and plant scientists all contributing to our current understanding. In recent years there has been an upsurge in interest from other disciplines, related to the realisation that secondary metabolites are dietary components that may have a considerable impact on human health, and to the development of gene technology that permits modulation of the contents of desirable and undesirable components. Plant Secondary Metabolites: Occurrence, Structure and Role in the Human Diet addresses this wider interest by covering the main groups of natural products from a chemical and biosynthetic perspective with illustrations of how genetic engineering can be applied to manipulate levels of secondary metabolites of economic value as well as those of potential importance in diet and health. These descriptive chapters are augmented by chapters showing where these products are found in the diet, how they are metabolised and reviewing the evidence for their beneficial bioactivity. Plant secondary metabolites have been a fertile area of chemical investigation for many years, driving the development of both analytical chemistry and of new synthetic reactions and methodologies. The subject is multi-disciplinary with chemists, biochemists and plant scientists all contributing to our current understanding. In recent years there has been an upsurge in interest from other disciplines, related to the realisation that secondary metabolites are dietary components that may have a considerable impact on human health, and to the development of gene technology that permits modulation of the contents of desirable and undesirable components. Plant Secondary Metabolites: Occurrence, Structure and Role in the Human Diet addresses this wider interest by covering the main groups of natural products from a chemical and biosynthetic perspective with illustrations of how genetic engineering can be applied to manipulate levels of secondary metabolites of economic value as well as those of potential importance in diet and health. These descriptive chapters are augmented by chapters showing where these products are found in the diet, how they are metabolised and reviewing the evidence for their beneficial bioactivity.

Plant secondary metabolites are plant-based natural products that display a variety of pharmacological effects. This book discusses the invaluable bioactivity and multifaceted potential of these compounds. The book describes the physico-chemical and biochemical aspects of the plant secondary metabolites along with the chemistry, therapeutics and future perspectives of these plant secondary metabolites. Moreover, the book also discusses about various sources of plant secondary metabolites, and the metabolite determination through various analytical techniques. It further describes the potential applications of plant secondary metabolites as anticancer and chemo preventive agents, their role as cosmetic ingredients and activity in skin cancer therapy. Further chapters emphasize upon the plethora of roles of plant secondary metabolites, including those as antivirals, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory drugs, cardioprotective agents etc. The book culminates with chapters on the impact of certain plant secondary metabolites in plant defence and human healthcare. This book is meant for researchers and students in the field of pharmacology and plant sciences. Moreover, this book is also useful for industry experts especially working in the field of herbal therapeutics.